The Chelsea Standard
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
My heroes
Relay is about the fight and the fighters
By Jamie D. Lane, Guest Writer
PUBLISHED: May 15, 2008
"You have cancer."
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Fortunately, I have never heard those words but for the millions of people that have, I cannot imagine a more frightening experience.
What will happen, how sick will I get, what about my family, what about my job, will I survive? The uncertainty and the questions that undoubtedly swirl through their minds must be unbearable. And this is probably just the first 24 hours after diagnosis. Then begins the battery of questions from concerned family and friends, the unending doctor appointments and tests, blood draws and "treatments."
Loss of hair, loss of appetite and loss of self-esteem may also follow. And during all this, the continued uncertainty remains. Will my friends treat me differently, will my health insurance cover all of this, will I ever lead a normal life again?
People have their heroes in the sports world and the music world and the art world and the literary world but for me, cancer victims are my heroes. They have been dealt a crummy hand and now, with the help of their family, friends and medical providers, they must rise above this terrible disease.
They must summon their strength from within and find additional strength from external sources, all while remaining positive for the rest of us. It must be quite a balancing act and for that, these people are my heroes. They must continue to go for treatments that may leave them incredibly sick and take their hair and their immune system but they go, knowing and hoping that this will lead them back to their family and friends and jobs and a normal life. For these reasons and countless others, these people are my heroes.
There are numerous ways you can help my heroes, not the least of which is to attend the 13th annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Chelsea. Please join myself and 453 other participants, many of them survivors, on Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. and running until Sunday at 10 a.m.
This year's event will return to the CHS track and field stadium located at the WSEC in Chelsea. Chelsea's Relay has 25 registered teams this year including teams from Manchester and Ann Arbor. For a complete listing of entertainment and events, please see the insert in this week's Standard.
Chelsea's Relay is just one of the 4,800 plus Relays that will take place around the globe this year including 19 countries outside of the U.S. There will be well over 3.5 million people participating in Relay for Life during the '08 season which means one in every 100 Americans participates in Relay. Since its' inception, Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society's signature fund-raising event, has raised over $2 billion in the fight against cancer. These funds are used for cancer research, education and advocacy as well as patient services including transportation to treatments, peer support-group programs and resources for practical assistance.
The American Cancer Society also provides a comprehensive cancer information line that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week with trained medical personnel available to answer any cancer related questions anyone might have. The number is 1-800-ACS-2345. They can also be reached on the internet at www.cancer.org.
It is never too late to register to be a part of Relay, whether you're forming a Relay team or you are a survivor that would like to participate in the survivors' activities. For additional information on becoming involved, contact this year's event Chair, Janice Kett-Blinn at jackblinn@chartermi.net.
The community is also invited to attend the luminaria ceremony on Saturday night at 9 p.m. The ceremony kicks off at dusk and is a moving tribute and remembrance as well as the light for a hopeful future.
Please plan to attend Relay for Life, a life changing event to help celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, to remember those lost to the disease and to fight back against a disease that takes so much from so many. Please come out to support my heroes, the brave souls that take on this disease with all of their strength and determination, my loved ones and yours.
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